Rhinelander Teen Enjoys Challenges Behind the Scenes

“Please excuse the interruption, but can Brian Bex come down to the office?” asks a friendly voice emerging from the loud speaker.

“Another challenge,” thinks the blonde-haired young man gathering up his books in the back of the room.

“He’s on his way!” replies a Rhinelander High School teacher, turning her voice toward the panel on the wall while nodding to Bex as he exits the room.

Just a typical day for the RHS senior, who smiles as he leaves the classroom.  Unlike many students heading to the office,

Sound Technician Brian Bex enjoys the challenge of making others sound good while remaining behind the scenes. (Photo by Linda Goldsworthy)

he’s looking forward to the prospect. No, he’s not going to meet with Principal Mike Werbowski for some infraction, and he’s not being called down for a dentist appointment.

He’s wanted for his expertise—and fast.  There’s some problem with the sound and lighting system in the auditorium, and everyone at RHS knows that Bex is the resident genius who’s up for any challenge.

Luckily, for the Three Lakes Theater Company, this sound technician’s knowledge makes life behind the scenes run very smoothly.

Logging 55+ round trip miles to attend key rehearsals and performances, the son of Butch and Sandy Bex thrives behind the lights and enjoys the never-ending problem-solving tests sound and lighting provide. 

“I feel more comfortable, and I like the fast-pace of doing sound.  If I don’t get a CD cue right away, it impacts the show a lot,” explains Bex on why he shies away from the limelight. “I’m not a very good singer, and I’m not very comfortable in front of people.  Besides, sound is very important— if the sound guy is not there, the audience won’t hear anything.”

Under the tutelage of technical director Doug Russell and musical director Lori Hunter, Bex was the sound technician for “Annie Get Your Gun” and will serve in the same capacity for “The Wizard of Oz.”

“The people in the TLTC are energetic and nice,” explains Bex with a smile. “They made me feel comfortable my first year, especially Mrs. Hunter and Mr. Russell.  They also supply me with much appreciated Butterfinger treats.”

Bex estimates that he’s operated the lights and sound for over 100 events, some with multiple performances, during his tenure as technical guru at Rhinelander High School.  About 20 percent of the events are done on a volunteer basis; however, when outside groups, like the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, are performing, Bex is paid $7.50 an hour.

Nicolet College recently relied on Bex’s sound engineering abilities for their May productions of “Little Shop of Horrors” as part of an independent study for credit.

“Doing sound for performances has taught me a lot about dedication, time management and working well with people. I’ve also become more confident in myself,” says Bex of his experiences. “It’s also taught me that it’s not really the school’s stuff.  I treat it as my own to make sure everything works ok.”

Few people find their true passion while in high school; however, Bex is the exception. After graduation, he’s planning on attending DeVry University in Addison, Illinois to major in sound engineering, focusing on theater mixing with microphones and sound effects. 

What will RHS do without the multi-talented Bex, who specialized in the timpani in band, lettered in state band, played defensive end for the football team, filmed the boys basketball team, and managed the equipment for the gymnastics team?

He is leaving a legacy.  “I feel I have a responsibility to pass my technical knowledge to someone younger.  Once I leave, there won’t be anyone to run anything.  But now there’s Anthony Hook,” explains Bex of passing the torch to a “younger” generation.

When Bex came to an early TLTC cast meeting in April, his sophomore protégé was also in attendance.  It’s expected that Hook will pass his knowledge on to a younger student as well once he’s a senior.  But for now, Hook will absorb all the knowledge he can as the TLTC’s lighting and sound assistant for “The Wizard of Oz.”

According to Bex, the TLTC’s production poses some sound challenges. “Last year, the most difficult aspect was controlling the cordless lapel mics.  They have a signal that runs from a little box and the feedback can be hard to control.”

However, the challenge of doing the sound for “Annie Get Your Gun” was small in comparison to the trials Bex would face in November of 2003 following the death of girlfriend Lindsay McKenzie. A 2003 RHS graduate, McKenzie was diagnosed with a rare brain cancer in late August, just prior to leaving forUW-Green Bay to major in vocal jazz performance. 

While dating Bex, McKenzie also taught him a lot about overcoming personal obstacles he faced in the classroom.

“I have trouble with reading and spelling.  Lindsay would always help me with classes I had trouble with.  By overcoming that, I’ve taught myself things that other people don’t know,” explains Bex who shared a love of music and dream careers with his talented girlfriend.

“She also taught me a lot about being nice and helpful to others,” concludes Bex who admits to looking at life in a “much bigger perspective” than in the past and looks forward to the challenges life has yet to bring.

Cast Members Share "Wizard of Oz" Reflections

After nine months of preparation, over two months of rehearsals, and thousands of volunteer hours, the curtain will open on the Three Lakes Theater Company’s 10-Year Anniversary production of The Wizard of Oz in less than 48 hours. 

Perhaps one of the most-loved musicals of all time, The Wizard of Oz marks the TLTC’s tenth production and a return to the group’s fantasy-based origins.

This MGM production, unlike other musicals of that era, has withstood the test of time, a major concern of company executives in 1939.  The concern was so great that a major production number called “The Jitterbug” in the stage version was omitted from the movie.

According to Don Haney, WXPR’s host of  “Thursday, Your Favorites,” Louis Mayer of MGM wanted the show to would become a “timeless” production like Walt Disney’s December 1937 release of  Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. 

“As a result the Jitterbug scene was eliminated because the dance would date the musical,” explained Haney. “The Jitterbug would pin the movie down to that exact time.  So it ended up on the editing room floor.”

While the goal of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer was to create a timeless production, who would have guessed that the $2.77 million movie and story would still appeal to young and old alike nearly 65 years after its release.

“I think it’s several things,” Haney noted on the movie’s popularity.  “Frank Baum wrote good stories—13 or 14 of them.  They were fascinating.  They tickle your imagination.  It’s a thing that a let’s a child’s imagination go wild.  That’s what kids love.”

Current cast members concur with Haney’s assessment. 

“I remember watching The Wizard of Oz with my four brothers and being completely enthralled as its magic unfolded.  The Good Witch was the most beautiful and kind female that I had ever seen portrayed on TV.  And those Winkies—how very frightening they were!” said Joan Meeder, who joins the TLTC in her first production as a Munchkin and Ozian.

Several other cast members used the word “family” when describing their memories of The Wizard of Oz and its magical qualities.

“Watching The Wizard of Oz was an event for my family.  Considering this was in the days long before video tape or Tevo, it was not to be missed.  My mom would buy soda pop (in glass bottles) for my five siblings and me which was, for us, a huge uncommon treat,” remembered Donna Russell who will play Glinda, the Good Witch of the North in Thursday’s production.

Cynthia Wallis of Sugar Camp had much the same recollection. “We anxiously awaited the evening when The Wizard of Oz would be on television.  When the night finally arrived, my brothers, sister and I would each find our spots in front of the TV.”

According to one TLTC member, the magical qualities of the musical sparked her imagination at a very, very early age.

“My earliest memory of The Wizard of Oz may likely be one of my earliest memories ever! I say that because I remember being in my crib, only protected by the "bars" of the crib, and very afraid of the Wicked Witch!” claimed Laurie Craig who will face the green-faced Wicked Witch as a Munchkin.

Wallis agreed with the strong cinematic impression Margaret Hamilton’s character made on her. “My sister and I always needed a blanket or afghan to use periodically to hide from the wicked witch!” she noted.

Because of its strong use of creativity to tell the story, The Wizard of Oz was also easy for children to recall, even when no TV or movie screen were visible.  Occasionally, it even helped to pass the time.

Beth Jacobson, who plays one of the apple-throwing trees, recalled just that. “One of my favorite memories of the story came when my brother’s eighth grade class performed the play.  While I don’t remember what part my brother had, I remember that the drudgery of washing and drying dishes each night was a little more bearable when, for about a month, we practiced singing all the songs. Singing “Ding, dong, the witch is dead” sure helped our chore go a lot quicker.  I still wonder how our parents tolerated our joyful noise!”

Even TLTC veteran Don Phelps used the culture of The Wizard of Oz to make time fly as it had captured his daughter’s imagination.

“When my daughter Moriah was in first grade, she fell in love with a pair of ruby slippers at WAL MART. On the way home she put them on and was extremely pleased with her elegant, new shoes. I asked her to click her heels together and repeat there's no place like home several times so we could get home faster. After many futile attempts she gave up. Many more miles passed before I explained she had not done it properly. She hadn't closed her eyes while saying it,” smiled Phelps. “After the final attempt we were home at last.”

Moriah Phelps isn’t the only culturally literate American when it comes to those slippers; in fact, Dorothy’s ruby slippers from the movie are one of the Smithsonian’s most visited exhibits.  And special showings of the movie on TV and the big screen are just as popular.

“Last summer my daughter and I were able to view The Wizard of Oz on a jumbo-tron screen in an Illinois park.  The lyrics to the song were on the screen so we, along with hundreds of others, were able to sing along. My daughter Bethany even got to meet one of the original Munchkins from the movie,” said Russell.

Perhaps 19-year-old Tim Bohn in his first production is no different than thousands of others who love the show and joined the production for just that reason. “I swear I have seen the movie a million times, and it never gets old.  We all have big shoes to fill—Judy Garland, Burt Lahr, Jack Haley, Frank Morgan.  I feel honored to be a part of this play

Page last updated on 02/26/2008